Pump operated removal device for cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A gravel or ore cleaning apparatus comprises a tank which contains water maintained at a predetermined level. A pan is positioned within the tank below the water level and receives material to be cleaned therein. The pan is oscillated by an oscillating mechanism to cause the material to be moved to the egress end of the pan and to cause the material to be stratified in a lower layer of sound heavy material and an upper layer of unsound lightweight material. A conveyor removes the sound heavy material from the tank as it is discharged from the egress end of the pan. A pair of removal conduits have their intake ends positioned over the material in the pan so that the water entrained unsound lightweight material is removed by suction through the removal conduits. Suction is created by a pump which pumps water from the tank through the removal conduit to create negative pressure and suction in the removal conduit, in addition to a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;true&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; siphon assist.

United States Patent Blanich I 1451 Dec. 19,1972

[54] PUMP OPERATED REMOVAL DEVICE FOR CLEANING APPARATUS [72] Inventor:Steve R. Blanich, lOOl Birch Street.

PO. Box 96, Crosby, Minn. 56441 122 Filed: Feb. 1,1971

21 Appl.No.:Ill,369

[52] U.S. Cl ..209/446, 209/492 [51] Int. Cl. .B03b 3/00 [58] FieldofSearch.l....209/446, 450, 441,49 ,4 7

Primary ExaminerF rank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-Ralph J. Hill IAttorney-Williamson, Palmatier & Bains [57] ABSTRACT level. A pan ispositioned within the tank below the waterlevel and receives material tobe cleaned therein. The pan is oscillated by an oscillating mechanism'tocause the material to be moved to the egress end of the pan and to causethe material to be stratified in a lower layer of sound heavy materialand an upper layer of unsound lightweight material. A conveyor removesthe sound heavy material from the tank as it is discharged from theegress end of the pan. A pair of removal conduits have their intake endspositioned over the material in the pan so that the water entrainedunsound lightweight material is removed by suction through the removalconduits. Suction is created by a pump which pumps water from the tankthrough the removal conduit to create negative pressure and suction inthe removal conduit, in addition to a true siphon assist.

5 Claims, 1, Drawing Figure PAIENTEnnEc 19 I972 3. 706, 37 7 INVENTOR.Steve R. Blanz'ch ATTOEAJEHS' PUMP OPERATED REMOVAL DEVICE FOR CLEANINGAPPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In certain commercial gravel or orecleaners, the unsound lightweight water entrained material is removedfrom the cleaning tank by forced outflow tubes, overprovide a gravelorore cleaning apparatus with a pump operated removal system forremoving the water entrained lightweight material from the cleaningtank. To this end, water is pumped from the cleaning tank and this wateris pumped through the removal conduit toward the discharge ..endthereof. This produces a negative pressure and venturi effect in theremoval conduit so that the lightweight water entrained unsound materialis removed by suction from the cleaning tank through the intake ends ofthe removal conduit. In the present removal device, water which isrelatively clean. is circulated through the pump and this reduces thewear to the pump and therefore reduces maintenance cost. These and otherobjects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from thefollowing description made in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like reference characters refer to the same or'similar partsthroughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING The drawing-is adiagrammatic perspective view of a gravel cleaning apparatusincorporating the novel removal device and with certain parts thereofbroken away for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing,- itwill be seen that one embodiment of a gravel or ore cleaning apparatus,designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is there shown. Thisapparatus includes a generally rectangular shaped open top cleaning tank11 which may be constructed of a suitable metallic material. An inletconduit 12 is provided for supplying water to the cleaning tank. Thedischarge end of the inlet conduit 12 is provided with a valve 13 whichis controlled by a suitable float 14 so that the water level within thetank 11 is maintained in a pre-selected level.

An elongate pan or trap 15 is positioned within the cleaning tank 11 andis disposed below the surface of the water. It will be noted that thepan 15 is of generally rectangular configuration and includeslongitudinal side walls 16, end wall 17, and a bottom wall 18. The panis oscillated during use and the material to be cleaned is moved from aningress end 19 of the pan towards the opposite or egress end 20 thereof.A discharge chute 21 is provided at the egress end of the pan throughwhich the heavy sound material is discharged.

Material is supplied to the pan 15 by a material supply pipe or conduit22 which has its discharge opening positioned above and closely adjacentthe ingress end 19 of the pan 15. The material to be cleaned'may begravel, sand, ore or the like, and this material will be discharged in aslurry form in a well-known manner.

Means are provided for oscillating the pan 15 and this means includes anelectric motor 23 which is connected by suitable electrical conductors24 to a source of electrical current. The output shaft 25 of theelectric motor 23 is connected by a crank arm 26 to a link 27. The link27 is connected to an arm 28 which in turn is connected to the pan 15.When the electric motor 23 is energized, the pan will be longitudinallyoscillated and this action causes the material to be cleaned to be movedfrom the ingress end of the pan towards and egress end thereof.Thisoscillating motion also causes the material to be cleaned to'bestratified into a lower stratum of sound heavyweight material and anupper materialwill be discharged through the chute 21 and will fall byaction of gravity upon a conveyor 29 which will convey the heavyweightmaterial exteriorly of the cleaning tank 11.

In this regard, it will be noted that the conveyor 29 is comprised of anendless conveyor belt or apron 30 which is trained about rollers 31. Theuppermost roller 31 will be driven and it will be noted that theconveyor belt in the embodiment shown is disposed in an inclinedposition. The endless conveyor belt is provided with a plurality ofconveyor lift elements 32 sothat the particulate sound material will belifted and conveyed from the tank 11. It is pointed out that othersuitable removal'or conveyor systems may also be used.

Means are also provided for removing the unsound lightweightmaterial'from the cleaning tank and this means includes a removalmechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 33. This removalmechanism 33 includes a pair of elongate removal conduits 34 which arespaced apart from each other and each having an intake end 35 whichextends downwardly into the cleaning tank 11 adjacent the pan 15. Theseremoval conduits 34 extend exteriorly of the cleaning tank and dischargethe water entrained lightweight unsound material at remote points below1 the level of water in the cleaning tank.

The removal mechanism 33 also includes a pump 36 which is driven by asuitable electric motor 37, the pump motor being a variable speed typeto permit the pump to be operated at different speeds. An elongate inletconduit 38 has one end thereof connected in communicating relation withthe pump 36 and has its inlet end 39 positioned in the cleaning tank 11and below the pan 15. With this arrangement relativelyclean water ispumped from the tank 11 through the inlet conduit and through the pump36.

An outlet conduit 40 has one end connected in communicating relationwith the pump 36 and has its other end connected by a suitableT-coupling to a pair of similar connecting conduits 41. These connectingconduits each has its other end connected to one of the removal conduits34 adjacent the intake end portion'of the removal conduit. A pairvof'similar valves 42'are provided, each being interposedin controllingrelation with respect to one of the connecting conduits 41.

In use, material will be supplied to the cleaning tank 11 through thematerial supply conduit 22. This material will be discharged into theoscillating pan l and this oscillating motion will cause the material tobe cleaned to be stratified into a lower bed or stratum of soundheavyweight material and an upper water entrained bed or stratum ofunsound lightweight material. The oscillating movement will also causethe beds or strata to be moved from the ingress end of the pan towardsthe egress end thereof.

The variable speed pump will be operated and water will be pumped fromthe tank through the inlet conduit and thereafter outwardly through theoutlet conduit 40. Water will also be pumped as high velocity jetsthrough the connecting conduits and will be discharged into the removalconduits to blow towards the outlet ends of these discharge conduits.When this occurs, the high velocity jets of water being discharged fromthe smaller connecting conduits 41 and into the removal conduits 34 willproduce a venturi effect and a negative pressure within the removalconduits. Thus the water entrained lightweight particles will be made bysuction through the intake ends of the removal conduits and will bedischarged exteriorly of the tank and below the water level inside thetank. With this present arrangement, only relatively clean water iscirculated through the variable speed pump which minimizes wear to thepump as'distinguished'from circulating the water entrained lightweightmaterial to the pump which results in considerablewear.

It will be noted that one of the removal conduits is positioned adjacentthe intermediate or central portion of the pan 15 while the otherremoval conduit has its in-' take end positioned adjacent the egress endof the pan. The removal conduit positioned adjacent the central portionof .the pan serves as a precleaning device to remove a certain amount ofthe unsound lightweight material from the tank while the other removalconduit serves as a final cleaning and removal means for removing thelightweight unsound material from the tank. By adjusting the valves 42,either of the removal conduits may be selectively rendered inoperativeas desired.

It is pointed out that the removal mechanism 33 may be used inconjunction with other kinds of cleaners rather than the oscillating pancleaner shown here. However, the removal mechanism is especially adaptedfor use with the oscillating pan'type cleaner.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that l have provided anovel removal mechanism which very effectively serves to remove bysuction the lightweight unsound material in a gravel or ore cleaningoperation. By circulating high velocity jets of water through theremoval conduits towards the outlet ends thereof, a

venturi effect and suction is created which very effectively removes theunsound water entrained material from the tank. The high velocity jetsnot only create the negative pressure but also assist in the removal ofthe materials through the removal conduit.

With this arrangement, the structural design of the cleaning apparatusmay be varied and modified as opposed to the limitations imposed byforced outflow tubes.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a novel and improved removalmechanism for a gravel, sand, or, ore cleaning apparatus, which is notonly of simple and inexpensiveconstruction, but one which functions in amore efficient manner ;than any heretofore known comparable device.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning particulate material such as gravel, ores andthe like, said apparatus comprising a tank adapted to contain apredetermined amount of water therein, .means for maintaining apredetermined water level in said tank,

a generally horizontally oriented pan having a bottom located below saidpredetermined water level having anjingress end and having an egressend,

means for oscillating said pan,

material supply means connected to a source of the material to becleaned and having an outlet end positioned closely adjacent the ingressend 'of said pan to supply particulate material to be cleaned theretowhereby the material to be cleaned will be stratified in the pan into alower stratum of sound heavy material and an upper water entrainedstratum of lightweight unsound material 'as' the material is moved fromthe ingress end to the egress end of the pan,

means extending into said tank for removing the heavier sound materialexteriorly of said tank,

means for removing lightweight suspended material from said tankincluding an elongate removal conduit having an inlet end extending intosaid tank below the water level thereof and positioned above said panand having an outlet end located exteriorly of said tank, with dischargeend below .water level of tank, said means for removing lightweightsuspended material further comprising a pump, and

an inlet conduit having one end thereof connected in communicatingrelation with said pump and having the other end thereof extending intosaidtank, and i an outlet conduit means interconnected in communicatingrelation with said pump and with said removal conduit, and directedtoward said outlet end of said means for removing lightweight material,whereby water under pressure is pumped from said outlet conduit throughsaid removal conduit to create a negative pressure in said removalconduit and thereby cause water entrained lightweight material to bepumped exteriorlyof the tank through the removal conduit.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and a second removal conduithaving an inlet end spaced above the material to be cleaned in said panand spaced from said first mentioned removal conduit, said secondremoval conduit being interconnected in communicating relation with saidoutlet conduit means so that water under pressure is also pumped throughsaid second removal conduit to create a negative pressure in said secondmentioned removal conduit and thereby cause water entrained lightweightmaterial to be pumped exteriorly of the tank through the secondmentioned removal conduit.

below said pan.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for removingheavyweight material from the tank comprises an endless conveyor havinga plurality of lifting elements thereon for lifting the heavyweightmaterial discharged from the egress end of said pan.

1. Apparatus for cleaning particulate material such as gravel, ores andthe like, said apparatus comprising a tank adapted to contain apredetermined amount of water therein, means for maintaining apredetermined water level in said tank, a generally horizontallyoriented pan having a bottom located below said predetermined waterlevel having an ingress end and having an egress end, means foroscillating said pan, material supply means connected to a source of thematerial to be cleaned and having an outlet end positioned closelyadjacent the ingress end of said pan to supply particulate material tobe cleaned thereto whereby the material to be cleaned will be stratifiedin the pan into a lower stratum of sound heavy material and an upperwater entrained stratum of lightweight unsound material as the materialis moved from the ingress end to the egress end of the pan, meansextending into said tank for removing the heavier sound materialexteriorly of said tank, means for removing lightweight suspendedmaterial from said tank including an elongate removal conduit having aninlet end extending into said tank below the water level thereof andpositioned above said pan and having an outlet end located exteriorly ofsaid tank, with discharge end below water level of tank, said means forremoving lightweight suspended material further comprising a pump, andan inlet conduit having one end thereof connected in communicatingrelation with said pump and having the other end thereof extending intosaid tank, and an outlet conduit means interconnected in communicatingrelation with said pump and with said removal conduit, and directedtoward said outlet end of said means for removing lightweight material,whereby water under pressure is pumped from said outlet conduit throughsaid removal conduit to create a negative pressure in said removalconduit and thereby cause water entrained lightweight material to bepumped exteriorly of the tank through the removal conduit.
 2. Theapparatus as defined in claim 1 and a second removal conduit having aninlet end spaced above the material to be cleaned in said pan and spacedfrom said first mentioned removal conduit, said second removal conduitbeing interconnected in communicating relation with said outlet conduitmeans so that water under pressure is also pumped through said secondremoval conduit to create a negative pressure in said second mentionedremoval conduit and thereby cause water entrained lightweight materialto be pumped exteriorly of the tank through the second mentioned removalconduit.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said firstmentioned removal conduit is positioned adjacent the central portion ofsaid pan and said second mentioned removal conduit is positionedadjacent the egress end of said pan.
 4. The apparatus as defined inclaim 3 wherein said one end of said inlet conduit is positioned in saidtank below said pan.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein saidmeans for removing heavyweight material from the tank comprises anendless conveyor having a plurality of lifting elements thereon forlifting the heavyweight material discharged from the egress end of saidpan.